Combined cigarette holder, smoker, and ash-retainer



Oct. 3l, 1939. N CQFFELT ET AL 2,177,636

COMBINED CIGARETTE HOLDER, SMOKER, AND ASH RETAINER Filed DeC. 17, 1936 l] 4 27 zo 26 5 la rl l /z /M www" l l Patented Oct. 31, y1939 OMBIKNED CIGARETTE HOLDER, SMOKER,

" vAND ASH-RETAINER Norman Coffelt, vGlen Burnie, and Sterling?. l Buck, Baltimore, Md., assignors of two-thirds Y f to said Coifelt and one-third to said Buck Application December'l', 1936, Serial No. 116,342

. "9 Claims.

f This -inventionrelates to ash-retainingfcigarette-pipes, or, combined cigarette holder, smoker vand, ash-retainer. 'f

In brief, concise and broad terms, the invention vr,5 consists of atube having one end permanently .closed and its other end open when-inserting a cigarette, but closed ,whenv the cigarette is being smoked, except for a draught-duct in the mouthpiece which ishinged to the originally open end ,19 yand constitutes the closure therefor while also combining therewith to form a clamp that se- -curesthe cigarette insmoking position and relation, securingor latching means being provided to move or be moved into and out of position for IIS keeping the closure. in the closing and clamping position;l means also being provided to close and open air-inlets in the upper side of the tube, so as to prevent spilling of asheswhen closed; all as shown inthe seven figures of drawing that are 20 signed and dated onthis 4th day of December,

It is well known that `many destructive and costly coniiagrations have been started by lighted cigars and cigarettes, and by incandescent ashes ,25 falling therefrom into or ontok papers, leaves, dry

grass, lint in factories, bed-clothes etc.; that costly articles 4of clothing,- carpets, rugs, table covers and furniture have been spoiled or disiigured by smokersv thoughtlesslyy laying or f inadvertently ,on such articles; and that, regardless of these dangers and annoyances, there is that unsightly aspectv of ashes dropped on-oors, carpets, rugs `and tables;` all these .dangers and annoyances ,35 beingavoidable; and one object of this present invention is to avoid, obviate or preclude them.

,Another object of theinvention, therefore, is to meet the great and growing need of the present generation of smokers, especially those who smoke 40 while-motorillg, to avoid accidents such as often occur by the drivers rattention being diverted by @ashes fallingon his clothes or blowing into his eyes; to avoid foresty fires byhunters or campers whose ashes or lighted stumps so often fall into 45 dry leavesor grass and cause fires that destroy i forests, field crops, houses, villages and lives; and to Vavoid loss of property and'lives sometimes caused; by persons smoking in bed or in upholstered chairs where they `fall asleepand let the l50 lighted cigar or cigarette fall and start the fire.

A further Objectis ,to provide a safe and satisfactory tube, pipe 0r housing in which a cigarette or cigar 'can be smoked, laid on papers, table covers, varnished surfaces, `marble etc., ror put into 55 pockets,` hand-bags and other receivers, without 30 dropping; lighted stumps of cigars and cigarettesv drawing and specifically vdescribed hereinafter.`

Other objects and important features are "l0 pointed out or implied in the drawing in connection with the yfollowing details of description, wherein, similarreference numerals refer to similar parts in the several views of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the :1.5 invention, showing the approximate size used in connection with standard-size cigarettes;I but itis understood. that this size' and shape can be changed to suit different sizes of cigarettesand cigars, as circumstances may dictate. 120

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section, showing a part vof a cigarette in dot-dash lines within the housing, and the combined mouth-piece, closure, and lower clamp-jaw in its normal clamping and smoking position in full b2li lines, and turned up and over in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing certain modifications of several features, the combined mouth-piece, closure and lowerV clamp-jaw .being in the wide-open position, ther curved lines L3 0 showing the relation of elements of the closure to the main tubular part ofthe housing when in the normal position.

Fig. 4 'is a sectional view at the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. 35 Fig. 5 is a sectional view at the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

' Fig. 6 is a sectional view zat the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a detail view of an annular closure fas- 40 tener such as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, either hav- V ing a point secured to the tubular main member, or free to be` slid along the latter against frictional resistance.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it is 45 seen that the tubular member I0 has an initially or primarily closed outer end I I, an annular boss or ridge I2, a corresponding annular inner groove I3, an opening or slot I4 which constitutes an airinlet. and an acute-angled inner end I5 which 50 may also be described as diagonal, longitudinally projecting or over-hung. A hinge I6 is secured to the acute end or over-hung part, and one wing of this hinger may be'` formed integrally with an upper lip or clamp-element I1 that is secured or 55 overlapping or interlapping ends of the members, I0 and I8, With their jaw-elements II and 22, form a restricted mouth or clamp that but slightly compresses the end of the cigarette or cigar held thereby in the position for being smoked through the mouth-piece 2l. The lateral edges of the lips iI'I and 22 are preferably chamfered or thinned so as to slightly Widen the mouth and prevent pinch ing and tearing the Wrapper of the cigar or cigarette being clamped therein; and this also per-r mits the clamped end of the cigar or cigarette to spread laterally, so the draught therethrough is not hindered by the end of the cigar or cigarette being clamped. Moreover, to minimize the necessary clamping and depressing of the end, one or more of the teeth entering the clamped end, Will prevent the end from slipping out of the clamp in the event the device falls or otherwise receives a jar or impulse that Would tendto displace the cigar or cigarette from its clamped smoking position. In Fig. 2,-a partly consumed cigarette is' indicated at C in dot-dash lines.

To secure the member I8 in its closed or closing position, Aand permit it to be opened and closed at will, any appropriate catch or keeper or locking means may be employed; and a very simple and effective means is shown at 24 (Figs. 2, 3 and 7) in the form of a ring which is preferably split or open at-25 and may be secured at 25 tothe member I0 so it is not movable bodily, but can be sprung at the opening 25 by pressure of the yangular end of the member lI8 when moving to the closing position, then springs back byits own inherent elasticity so as yto engage vvith'themember I8 for holding itin the closing position. When desired to open the member I E! so as to insert a lighted cigarette, the free ends of the ring or keeper 24, at the opening 25, maybe pushed by means vof a finger or thumb out of engagement with the member IB'While the latter is turned on its hinge I6. i

In Figs. 2 and 4, the air-inlet I4 is shown closed by a combined heat insulating tube, handle `and air-inlet closure 2l which is longitudinally slotted or split at 28 and is slidable on the member I I) against a slight resistance in consequence of its springy clamping action on the member I Il; so it can be turned from the position shovvn,'to such position that the openings I4 and 28 are in registration with one another,'and so the air can then be sucked therethrough and through the cigar or cigarette by the smoker, and so the air-inlet can be closed by the member 21 when the user Wishes to prevent ashes from` spilling into a pocket or hand-bag into Whichthe device is placed for carrying it. The lower side of the member 2l may be formedwith a foot 29 having a at or plane under :side to prevent the device from rolling orf-turning over Iand spilling ashes when laid on a table, desk or other surface, and the vertical surfaces or lateral sides of the portion or foot 29 serve as manipulative means for easily turning the member 2l to and from the closing position Without increasing the friction between thcmembers 2l and. l0.

At 30, a length ofvvire is securedwith its ends in the groove I3 and serves as means to hold the cigarette away from the end of the housing so as not to interfere with the free passing of air vserves as a stop or rest for the lighted end of a cigar or cigarette; Whilethe rim of the member IIa serves the same purpose as the ridge I2 (Figs.

l and 2), to prevent the member 2l or 21a from being 'pushed too far forward on the member IU In the foregoing, the Words has its initially open outer end, are intended to mean that the outer end Was open before the cap or cup Was placed thereon for closing it. The dual rectangular construction shown at I5a is deemed less practical than the diagonal or oblique con` struction at I5 (Figs. 1 and y2); but it here illustrates, in connection yWith the complemental construction of the member laythat the invention is not limited to the overhung and interlapped construction previously explained. The longi-` tudinally extending upper lip Ila is only slightly different from the part I 'I and serves the lsame purpose in combination with the parts 22 and 23. In this modified form, the springy openk ring 24 is bodily movable from its full-line position to its dot-.dash line position and to other positions against a slight frictional resistance which norL mally holds it wherever placed bythe user; and it is seen that when the parts lila andISa are in their normal alined position'vvhile the keeper A24 is in its dot-dash position, the parts are secured thereby in their clamping relation with respect to a cigar or cigarette Within the device. In lieu of the slots I4 and 28 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 i two or more openings, or even a single opening in each of the elements Illa and 21a. may be provided of any desired size and shape, as indicated at Ma. and 22a (Figs. 3 and 5).

While the invention is not limited to these details as shown and described, and not toA any specific material or materials, it is contemplated that they are essentially non-combustible, and that the parts I8, Ia, 27, 21al and `24 should be Aheat-insulating'material such as Bakelite or the like, so the heat from the lightedl cigar or cigarette will not burn the hands or mar any piece of furniture on which the device may be laid; but it maybe' preferable to make thefparts I0, Illa, i I and IIa of silver, aluminum or an' alloy, so the user can ascertain, by locating the hottest part, to what extent thevcigarette has beenconsumed. f

In using the device, the cigar or cigarette is lighted and dropped into the open vend ofthe member I0 or Illa, the member IB or I8a, is Athen moved to its normal position, thereby clamping the cigarette'or cigary as indicated at the right end portion of Fig. 2; then if the member 2l Aor 27a is at the air-admitting position, the device is ready for smoking, and it is obvious thatthe fire and ashes cannot escape; but when the de-A vice is opened, the ashes may be emptiedy through the open end of the tubular member II) or Illa.

.What We claim asv our invention is:

l. In a device for the purposes specified, ther said means including a hinge which is engaged with said tubular element and combined tubular mouthpiece and closure so as to connect these elements together and in pivotal relation to one y another.

3. The combination deiined by claim 1 the airl inlet closing means being a tubular element on and frictionally embracing the first said tubular element and slidable thereon by manipulation of the user to and from positions for closing and opening the air-inlet.

4. The combination defined by claim 1, the said `tubular element having one side of its initially said combined tubular mouth-piece and closure being hinged to said initially open end and havingan end complementa] with and normally interlapping with said initially open end so as to f co-act therewith and with the hinge for clamping an end of a cigar or cigarette which is mainly to secure said tubular element and combined mouth-piece and closure normally in their cooperative clamping relation.

5. In a device -ior the purposes specied, the combination of a tubular element adapted to receive a cigar or cigarette and having an air inlet therein and having an initially open end, a combined mouth-piece and closure in interlapped engagement with said initially open end in cooperative relation With the latter to form a clamp for engagement with said cigar or cigarette so as to hold the latter against movement relative to the tubular element, said clamp having lips in the proper relation to hold the cigar or cigarette in spaced relation to the inner surface of the tubu-l lar element so as to obviate excessive heating of the latter by the cigarette or cigar when lighted, the other end of said tubular element being closed and imperforate and provided with means to keep v the cigar or cigarette spaced therefrom.

6. In a device for the purposes specied, the combination of a tubular receptacle and a tubular mouth-piece element hinged to one another and having substantially diagonal ends normally tted together in interlapped relation and being cooperative for engaging and holding a cigar or cigarette which may be placed therein, and means secured thereon and movable to and from a position for securing the diagonal ends in their cooperative relation to one another.

'l'. In a device for the purpose specified, the combination of a tubular element having initially open ends and having an air-inlet at its upper side, means to close and open said air-inlet, irnperiorate means normally closing one of said initially open ends of said tubular element, and a combined tubular mouth-piece and closure perinanently and movably secured on the other one of said initially open ends and comprising meansv for cooperating with said other one of the initially open ends in proper relation for clamping a lighted cigar or cigarette in smoking relation with said mouthpiece and air-inlet substantially as described.

8. The combination dened by claim 7, the last said means being inclusive of a hinge which is engaged with said tubular element and combined tubular mouthpiece and closure so as to connect these elements together in movable and cooperative clamping relation to one another.

9. In a device for the purpose specified, the combination of a tubular element having initially open ends and having an air-inlet at its upper side, means to close and open Said air-inlet, means normally closing one of said initially open ends of said tubular element, the other one of said open ends being substantially diagonal, and a tubular mouthpiece having a substantially diagonal end hinged to the diagonal end of said tubular element so as to be permanently secured thereto While being movable from a normally interlapped relation for clamping a cigar or cigarette and movable to an open position for permitting the cigar or cigarette to be inserted in and removed from said tubular element substantially as described.

NORMAN COFFELT. STERLING P. BUCK. 

